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You found needles in your child’s bedroom when bringing in their laundry. You hold them in your hand as you confront your teen. You notice that they are wearing a short-sleeved shirt for the first time in months. As they angrily storm past you grabbing the needles out of your hand, you notice that they have needle-like scars on their arms. You wonder if they are what you think they are. These are signs that more investigation might be needed. These might be heroin track marks.
Located in Coburg, Oregon, Serenity Lane has met with many parents who have gone through situations just like this one. If this sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone.
Heroin track marks are one of the signs of heroin addiction. They are the scarring left over from repeated needle use. Other tools that might be used with heroin include:
When an individual is living with addiction, they use these items to inject heroin into their veins. This causes the skin around the injection site to form scars and bruises. They look like small puncture wounds, and there are usually bruises in the areas where the veins have been repeatedly punctured and collapsed.
According to the Department of Health in Minnesota, people will begin injecting heroin into their arms until that location becomes too painful due to damaged and collapsed veins. At that point, someone may move the injection site to the neck, feet, groin, face, and hands. The more visible their injection sites become, the more they will cover up.
In a case from the National Institute of Health (NIH), a 48-year-old woman came into her clinic for acne. When examined, it was noted that she had what appeared to be track marks on her forearms and legs. She admitted that in her past, she injected heroin in those sites for 10 years, but she was now 20 years into her recovery. The marks were still there 20 years after use. She was tested for various viruses, and they all returned negative. Without proper care, these sites can cause skin infections that leave lasting scar formation.
The NIH says that self-treatment of heroin track marks often includes a lack of sterilization and improper use of antibiotics. This leads to several complications:
They recommend that proper care from medical professionals in sterile environments can prevent these complications.
Heroin withdrawal has several symptoms that vary in severity depending on how long someone has used it, how much they’ve used it, and their personal history:
Mild symptoms include:
Moderate symptoms include:
Severe symptoms include:
Withdrawal is an important step in your recovery as it allows your body to remove heroin from the system. It might feel tempting to return to heroin as your body begins to crave it, which can continue the loop of addiction and detox. Know that the body will crave it less as time passes and you begin to learn skills to help you cope with daily stresses.
You should seek medical support if you are experiencing severe symptoms. Every person is different and will experience withdrawal at different degrees based on the amount taken and how long it was taken. Depression and anxiety can lead to more life-threatening behaviors like suicidal ideation or self-harm.
Finding out if someone you love is addicted to heroin can be difficult. Your loved one will probably try to hide track marks from you, but there are a few heroin side effects to look out for if you suspect someone you know is addicted to heroin.
If someone you love is wearing longer-sleeved shirts in the middle of 90-degree weather, or if they seem more tired or depressed than they once did, it might be time to ask them about illicit drug use. If they have been taking heroin, please know that recovery is possible. You might not know what to do, which is a normal feeling, and you should acknowledge and consider your feelings first. Let your loved one know that they are not alone and that you care about them and want them to get treatment. They might not be receptive at first., but by expressing your concern and offering to help, you’re showing them your support.
Taking heroin can lead to a heroin overdose. Here are some signs to look out for:
If you find someone who you have suspected has overdosed, administer naloxone. In the state of Oregon, you can carry naloxone with a prescription. Under Oregon’s Good Samaritan Law, you can’t be arrested for possessing drugs or paraphernalia if you are seeking overdose help for yourself or someone else.
Treatment for heroin addiction can save lives. Even though withdrawal symptoms can be scary and difficult to deal with, it is an important step in recovery. Buprenorphine can help you manage withdrawal symptoms as you learn skills and healthy behaviors to manage better the triggers you might have. Recovery is a continuous process; completing outpatient therapy after detox is a great way to continue your treatment as you continue your life.
If you or a loved one is concerned about the presence of heroin track marks, know that recovery is still possible. We provide outpatient services in Portland, Eugene, Salem, Roseberg, Coburg, and Bend. At Serenity Lane, we want to help. Our staff receives follow-up training every five years that allows them to stay current on ensuring you receive the best care possible. If you are ready to take the step in your recovery, call us today at 800-543-9905.
What are heroin track marks?
Heroin track marks are the scars of the injection sites. They are caused by repeated use on the same site over some time. They often look like small puncture wounds with some bruising caused by veins collapsing.
How far back can a toxicology report go?
A toxicology report for heroin might be missed and create false negatives. There also might be false positives with the presence of poppy seeds. However, typically, heroin and other opioids will be present in the system for 1 to 4 days during urine tests. However, when it comes to hair tests, it can range from 3 months (hair on your head) to 12 months (body hair like pubic hair).
Where can the heroin track marks be found on the body?
Heroin track marks often start on the arms. Once it becomes painful to inject heroin into the collapsed veins, track marks might appear on the face, feet, neck, hands, and groin. They are often concealed by the person who has a heroin addiction.
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